🗓️ Idiom: A Rough Patch (n)
💬 Meaning
- A difficult or challenging period of time.
- It refers to a temporary phase when things are not going well, especially in business or relationships.
🧠 Example Sentences
- The company hit a rough patch after losing two major clients.
- Every business goes through a rough patch during big changes.
- The team experienced a rough patch while adjusting to the new management style.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom likely comes from farming or travel, where a “rough patch” refers to uneven or hard ground. In business, it’s used to describe tough times that are usually short-term.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The department is going through __________ due to the sudden restructuring.
Answer
a rough patch
2. Choose the correct meaning of “a rough patch”:
A) A period of success
B) A time of slow but steady progress
C) A short time of difficulty or trouble
D) A final decision
Answer
C) A short time of difficulty or trouble
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“The company is having a temporary period of difficulty.” → Change the sentence using: a rough patch
Answer
The company is going through a rough patch.